Dual mode communication among plurality of processors using three distinct data channels each having different function and operations

ABSTRACT

A material processing system comprising a plurality of material processing stations and means for transporting articles to be processed serially through the processing stations in a given order, the improvement comprising a central processing station computer, a plurality of peripheral processing stations, each of the peripheral processing stations including a microprocessor, a first data channel serially interconnecting each of the peripheral processing station computers with the central processing station computer, a second data channel connecting each of the peripheral processing station computers directly with the central processing station computers, and a third data channel interconnecting each of the peripheral processing station computers with its next adjacent peripheral processing station computers, each of the channels performing a different data processing operation for controlling the serial processing for transporting articles.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The following related applications refer to subject matter related tothe subject matter of this application:

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/279,000 filed on Dec. 2, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,928,807, issued on May 29, 1990;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/242,566 filed on Sep. 12, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,852,334, issued on Aug. 1, 1989;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/281,607 filed on Dec. 9, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,006,194, issued on Apr. 9, 1991;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/292,613 filed on Dec. 30, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,003,485, issued on Mar. 26, 1991;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/292,156 filed on Dec. 30, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,970,654, issued on Nov. 13, 1990;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/292,060 filed on Dec. 30, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,146,587, issued on Sep. 8, 1992;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/292,157 filed on Dec. 30, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,962,623, issued on Oct. 16, 1990;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/292,616 filed on Dec. 30, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,942,535, issued on Jul. 17, 1990;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/292,059 filed on Dec. 30, 1988;

U.S. application Ser. No. 07/292,150 filed on Dec. 30, 1988, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,992,950 issued on Feb. 12, 1991.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to document collating and envelope stuffingmachines, and in particular to an automatic machine of the foregoingtype capable of higher speeds and increased reliability and flexibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,341 describes an automatic document collating andenvelope stuffing machine comprising a main flow path employing acontinuous conveying mechanism to an envelope stuffing station, in whichone or more feeding stations deposit documents onto a platformassociated with each feeding station. The documents in each platform arepicked up seriatim by the conveying mechanism and subsequently stuffedinto envelopes. The feeding stations are, each in parallel with the mainconveying mechanism, which operates continuously to pick up whateverdocuments are present on each feeder platform.

While this machine operates satisfactorily for its intended purpose, itdoes have certain inadequacies which limit its flexibility and speed.For example, the speed is determined solely by the main conveyingmechanism, which proceeds at the same velocity even though documents arenot present on the platforms. Moreover, it is difficult to keep track ofthe collation contents from station to station. Still further, it isdifficult, if not impossible, to employ a single address document withcoding to indicate the collation contents which can control each of thefeeding stations in turn.

Particularly, it is difficult to establish a communication protocolbetween modules in a modular insertion system which will permit maximumspeed of operation while not restricting the manner in which modulesinter-communicate. This is an important aspect for features such asqueuing, pass collations, rejecting erroneous collations, passing errormessages recognizing and adding new modules without the requirements ofchanging switches or re-programming memory, and multi-languagecapability for non-English language countries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The patents to Tomlinson et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,901 and Ward U.S.Pat. No. 4,636,947 each relate to parallel processing systems utilizingconcurrent data transfer, the former specifically directed toasynchronously intercoupled microprocessors.

Prodel et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,245) and Ropelato (U.S. Pat. No.4,771,374) relate to modular manufacturing and process controls;Stiffler et al (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,608,63l and 4,484,273) teach modularcomputer systems per se; Crabtree et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,690)provides for dynamic reconfiguring of a data processing system for addeddevices; and Shah et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,063) and Vincent et al(U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,535) disclose automatic configuration in singlecomputer systems.

The patent to Davis et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,229) shows a loopinitialization process.

The patent to Innes (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,615,002 and 4,595,908) relates tothe multilingual features.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the invention is a document collating and envelope stuffingmachine that can operate at high speeds.

A further object of the invention is a document collating and envelopestuffing machine that provides complete control of the collationcontents.

Another object of the invention is a document collating and envelopestuffing machine that is more flexible in its operation, by which ismeant that the machine can control the contents of each collation byprogramming each feeder station, or by providing an address documentcoded with the collation contents which controls each feeder, or by anoperator manually instructing each feeder station of the documents it isto contribute to the collation.

These and other objects and advantages as will appear hereinafter areachieved with a novel document collating and envelope stuffing apparatuscharacterized by a plurality of local feeding stations with each locatedin series in the main document flow path. Each local feeding station isprovided with a local queuing station directly in the main flow path.Each feeding station, in turn, captures the global collation created bythe previous upstream feeding stations, adds if desired one or moredocuments to the collation, and then passes on to the next downstreamstation the resultant global collation. A computer record is kept of theglobal collation, and as documents are added the computer record isupdated and passed on to the next feeding station. The basic system maybe called on-demand feeding. Each local feeding station in turn notifiesthe next local feeding station when its collation is complete so thatthe next feeding station is prepared to accept and contribute its owndocuments if desired to the global collation. The last feeding station,on demand, then feeds the resultant global collation to the envelopestuffing station, which can be followed if desired by a flap moisteningand sealing station and ultimately by a sorter or postage machine ifdesired. In accordance with another feature of the invention, theaccumulated collation record is checked for completeness, and ifincomplete, the stuffed envelope is ejected from the main flow path.

This invention is also directed to a material processing systemcomprising a plurality of material processing stations, and mans fortransporting articles to be processed serially through the processingstations in a given order; the improvement wherein each of theprocessing stations comprises a data and control processing system, andfurther comprising a communication path interconnecting each the dataand control processing system with the data and control processingsystem of the next preceding and next succeeding material processingstation in the given order; each the data and control processing systemcomprising means for controlling material processing at the respectivestation, means for signaling the data and control processing system ofthe next previous station that the respective station is ready toreceive material to be processed therefrom, and means for directing datato the data control and processing system of the next succeeding stationconcerning material processing steps that have been taken in therespective station on material to be passed to the next succeedingstation as well as data it may have received from the data and controlprocessing system of the next previous station concerning materialprocessing steps that had previously been taken on the material to bepassed to the next succeeding station.

Principal benefits derivable from the machine of the invention include:

1) the ability to add on additional feeding stations as modules withoutchanging the basic operation. These additional feeders can include sheetfeeders, bursters, which separate individual sheets from perforatedfan-folded continuous paper, folders and like document handlingapparatus;

2) the speed of the machine is not fixed, but is instead dependentprimarily on the time required for each local contribution to thecollation. Thus, if no local contribution is made, no unnecessary delaysare encountered at that feeding station;

3) the collation record which is passed on from station to station iskept up to date and provides a reliable record of the collation contentsat every station in the machine.

4) the up-to-date collation record can readily be used to controlsubsequent machine operations, such as ejection in case of a defectivecollation;

5) if an address document is used, it retains its position on top of thecollation stack and thus can be readily scanned to control the machine,and, when the global collation is stuffed in the envelope, the addresson the address document can be readily positioned to be visible througha window in the envelope.

The system employs asynchronous operation with no reciprocating motion.Previous inserter systems have operated asynchronously, but they haveused a ram type reciprocating operation for insertion. This organizationand structure reduces the vibration and noise and allows a lightermachine to be constructed. The queuing station arrangement and queuingdevice accumulates and holds documents in collation order until a downstream module calls for the collation to be transferred. If a jam isencountered in one station, jam clearing becomes much quicker because itis not necessary to disturb other collations in different module queuingstations, as all the other queue stations are in the wait state. Theuser only has to clear one station. A two belt system is employed forpositive drive of collation through the insertion station. Positive highspeed control is obtained by a continuous belt insertion drivemechanism. The continuous belt insertion provides a new form ofinsertion not previously used. Prior art devices use a large wheel witha small roller which has to be operated synchronously. The use of thesame device for both conveying a collation and also inserting it into anenvelope is unique. After insertion, the envelope is turned 90 degreesand sent to the next module for moistening and postage application. Thedevice also provides for asynchronously operating the envelope turner inrelation to the inserter operation. The asynchronous relationshipbetween the envelope turner and the inserter allows the inserter toreject erroneous collations without having to operate the turner andother downstream equipment. The electronic control of the presentinvention uses a unique communication arrangement which combinescommand/response and peer to peer communications. When the system is onbut not running in insert mode, the communication is a command/response,master/slave communication arrangement. This is a one-to-onecommand/response protocol where the master, the base envelope feedermicroprocessor, retains command and control over the various insertermodule microprocessors. However, while the system is running in insertmode, the communication technique changes to a peer to peer or module tomodule transfer mode wherein each module creates a record of itsactivity, known as a piece record, and passes it onto the next module.Master/slave communication is precluded during this mode of operation.Normal communications between modules during insert mode (not during,for example, a jam requiring user intervention) are transparent to theuser. This allows the use of a single UART for dual purposecommunications. It allows the throughput of large volumes of informationbecause the processing is in parallel in each module and the datatransfer throughout the modules is concurrent.

The system also allows for automatic configuration of equipment on powerup, and generates (each time it powers up) the necessary operatingconfiguration information of the equipment. Prior systems require aconfiguration PROM installed in the equipment. For each configurationchange, a new configuration PROM had to be generated and physicallychanged. It should be noted that such equipment allowed the user toselected features within the configuration, but not to change theconfiguration itself.

The ring of topology of the present invention facilitates geographicaddressing for module identification. The system employs a mastercontroller operating in conjunction with the module computer. The systemconfiguration analysis command from the master controller during thepower up sequence requires each module in the inserter to send databack. Because of this arrangement, the base system will have storedtherein the number of modules and their respective addresses. The baseneed not know the particular nature of the modules. This allows for theaddition of new and as yet unknown modules to the system. The softwarearchitecture is such that all messaging is displayed on the base module(all inserter configurations have an envelope module). Because allmessages that are displayed are generated by the various insertermodules and transmitted to the base module microprocessor for display ona display screen (in any language the operator selects) the system isflexible and allows the addition of new modules that do not presentlyexist. This permits module additions without having to change any of theexisting software. Modules such as bar code readers, OCR readers,scanners, sorting devices, etc., can be easily added.

Error messages can also be passed from module to base unit directlywithout passing through other modules along the second channelcommunication line. Error messages are pre-stored in each module. Theprestoring of error messages also allows the automatic selection offoreign language error messages.

The electronics in each module allow for generation of a piece record insoftware regarding each collation. A piece record is generated by theelectronics and is passed from module to module, without passing througha master controller, asynchronously through the inserter, from onemicroprocessor to another. The piece record corresponds to the physicalcollation which is being moved from module to module. It represents animage of the physical collation. Because of this architecture, one canpass a large amount of data in block format from module to module.Modular prior art systems typically worked in a master slaverelationship and the concept of direct module to module or peer to peercommunication in this context is unique. The piece record is a dynamicdata structure and accommodates different sizes of collations indifferent runs. The piece record is passed in a sequenced arrangement,module to module, but not necessarily passed between the modulessynchronously with the physical movement of the documents. Since, thepiece record is dynamic, it can include data for running a printerand/or any currently unknown or new I/O device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in greaterdetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the maindocument transfer devices and sensors;

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d illustrate schematically the asynchronousoperation of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are an illustration of the reject mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the interrelating electronics system foroperating the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electronics of a single module.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the electronics of the base unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the microprocessor employed within a singlemodule.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the microprocessor employed within a baseunit.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the program routine and system flowwithin the base unit.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are flow charts illustrating the program routine andsystem flow within a module.

FIG. 12 is a continuation of the program routine within the base unit.

FIG. 13 is a supplemental flow routine.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating the messaging subroutine.

FIG. 15 is a memory map illustrating the translation routine.

FIG. 16 is a program routine and system flow chart illustrating thetranslation routine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 of the drawings show a perspective view on a table 5 of themachine 10 of the invention provided with two document feeding stations12, feeding station keyboard for data entry 12a, a transport station 13,electronics control station 14, with associated message display screen15 and data key board 16, an envelope feeding station 17, an envelopestuffing station 18, a turning and ejection station 19, a moistener andsealing station 20, and a stacking station 21. Although only twodocument feeding stations are shown it will be appreciated that manymore feeding stations can be added on to the front end of the machine,which has been indicated by the dashed lines 22 shown at the left end,and the operation of the overall machine does not change. Such feedingstations or modules include bursting and folding modules also. Theability to add additional modules without the necessity of reconfiguringboth mechanisms and the central electronics is an important feature ofthe novel machine of the invention. The keyboard 16 is used to provideoperator input as to start, operating instructions, reset functions andthe like. The display 15 is employed to show error messages, modulestatus, echo keyboard instructions and the like.

The following detailed description will be more understandable with thebrief description of the underlying concepts and operation of themachine now outlined. Each feeding station is independent of otherfeeding stations and its operation is controlled by a localmicroprocessor. Each feeding station, of which one or more may beincluded in the machine, is typically provided with a hopper for storinga stack of documents, and a plurality of sensors connected to its localmicroprocessor for controlling the feeding of one or more of itsdocuments to the global collation, and signalling the receipt anddeparture of the global collation. Each feeding station contains aqueuing station for temporarily capturing and holding the globalcollation.

When the queuing station of the current feeding station is empty, itslocal microprocessor is signaled and deposits into its local queuingstation the one or more documents it is instructed to contribute. Thisinstruction may come manually from an operator through the keyboardlocated on the side of the feeder, be programmed into the localmicroprocessor through the base unit keyboard, or be derived from acoded address document, typically the top document of the collation,which has been read by a scanner at an upstream feeding station and theinformation passed on to the local feeding station. When the localcontribution is completed, the upstream microprocessor is signaled tosend down the so-far accumulated global collation, which is accomplishedby opening a gate at the previous queuing station and activating afeeder mechanism which then deposits the global collation on top of thelocal contribution at the current queuing station. This process, it willbe noted, ensures that an address document, previously on top of thecollation, remains on top at the current queuing station. Each localmicroprocessor is passed in turn a collation record, which records thedocuments contributed to the global collation, and each microprocessorin turn updates the collation record and passes it downstream to thenext feeding station, or, if the last, to the envelope stuffing station.When the global collation is completed at the current feeding station,the next downstream feeding station or envelope stuffing station isinformed. The global collation remains at the current queuing stationuntil the next downstream station is ready to receive the globalcollation. This is the basis for the on-demand feeding label, which isessentially an asynchronous operation in which local stations controlthe collation feeding while within the local domain, i.e., its localqueuing station. There is also a main computer or microprocessor whichcan communicate with each of the stations in the machine, but thecollation record is transferred directly from local microprocessor tolocal microprocessor, instead of via the main computer The operation ofthe envelope stuffing machine is similarly locally controlled by thestate of the immediately upstream feeding station, except that anydefects in the collation records passed on to it will result in ejectionof that stuffed enveloped from the main flow path.

The schematic side view of FIG. 2 provides cross-sectional detail of themodules of FIG. 1. Each feeding station 12 comprises a hopper forstacking a supply of documents designated 50 at the first station and 51at the second station. The operation of both feeders 12 is the same,hence the description given below for the second feeder applies equallyto the first. Transport means shown as rollers 34 feed one or moredocuments from the stack 51 down an inclined deck 23 onto a transportmeans shown as a belt drive 24. The belt drive is preferably twoparallel belts, 24A and 24B (not shown), which provide positive highspeed drive control on each side of the documents. At the right end ofthe belt drive 24 is a queuing station 25, represented by a gate 26which blocks advance of documents and a solenoid 27 for lifting the gate26 to allow documents to advance to the next downstream station. Thequeuing station also includes a pressure roller 33. The queuing stationoperation is a two-step process, involving rotary motion of the stationarm 35 about the pivot point 36. The document transport is via the beltdrive 24 which is blocked by the gate 26. When the downstream module isready to receive the document or documents resident at the queuingstation, the solenoid 27 is activated, causing rotation of arm 35 aboutthe pivot 36, and causing the gate 26 to rise out of its positionblocking movement of the documents and placing pressure roller 33 down,forcing the document against the belt 24, resulting in transport of thedocument by the belt 24 to the next module. The rollers 34 are activatedby a motor (not shown) and the transport 24 by a motor 28. Since a dualbelt drive is used, the queuing station is duplicated on both sides ofthe document, once for each belt. This arrangement is duplicated inevery module queuing station.

A plurality of sensors are present, such as, for example, opticalsensors that can detect the presence or passage of a document. Thesensors in FIG. 2 are shown as units spaced across the document path,typically a light emitter and a photo-detector operating in atransmission mode (well known in the art) for clarity, but combinedemitter-detectors operating in a reflective mode (also well known in theart) are preferred. Typically, each place where documents stand or passis provided with a sensor to keep track of the document flow. Thus, eachhopper has an input sensor 29 to determine the presence of stackeddocuments, and an output sensor 30 for detecting the leading andtrailing edge of passing documents to know how many have passed andwhen. Similarly, the queuing stations 25 each have an input sensor 31 toknow when documents arrive, and an output sensor 32 to know when theyhave left. This sensor arrangement is repeated in each module in thesystem.

The envelope stuffer 18 has been described in detail in copendingapplication Ser. No. 242,566, filed on Sep. 12, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No.4,852,334, issued on Aug. 1, 1989, assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention and incorporated herein by reference, and need not berepeated For present purposes, only the flow is necessary. The envelopes41, stacked on a hopper 42 with the usual input 43 and output 44sensors, are fed by roller transport means 45 down an inclined deck 46through transport means 47 where each envelope is stopped at queuingstation 48 comprising a gate 49 and gate-opening solenoid 37. Sensor 38is the input sensor for queuing station. When the envelope is stopped atthe gate, finger grabbers 52 are activated to open the envelope, withthe result that documents being transported by belt drive 53 and roller54 will be stuffed into the open envelope. The sensor 55 senses properloading into the envelope. Assuming proper loading, and readiness of thedownstream module 19, the gate 49 is open, and the associated pressureroller 56 applies pressure to the envelope against the transport belt57, causing the envelope to transport to the next module 19.

The stuffed envelope passes to the turner station module 19, the turnermodule being described in detail in copending application, Ser. No.279,000, filed Dec. 2, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,807, issued on May29. 1990, assigned to the assignee of the present invention andincorporated by reference herein. The envelope is transported bytransport belt 61, driven by roller 62, under pressure of pivotablepressure roller 63, whereupon it comes to rest against a stop 64. Rejectmechanism 65 (not shown), if a reject condition exists, will eject thedocument in a direction transverse to the document path. Absent a rejectcondition, the envelope is rotated 90°, from a position wherein theopening of the envelope is transverse to the feed path, to a positionwhere the opening of the envelope is parallel to the feed path, asdescribed in the aforesaid application, Ser. No. 279,000, now U.S. Pat.No. 4,928,807, issued on May 29, 1990. Next, the feed path is raisedrelative to the document stop 64, as shown in FIG. 2, so that theenvelope is free to move, the pressure roller 63 driving same againstthe belt 61, through pressure roller 66, to the next station 20.

It will be evident that a principal advantage of the invention is theability to be able to reject an unopened or damaged envelope, allowingmultiple attempts at inserting any given collation that is being held inqueue.

Because the inserter is an in-line system, an appropriate location toreject the envelope is out of the turn station 19, 90° to the directionof the mailpath, in to a tray 19A (FIG. 1) that would be in closeproximity to the operator for manual handling, at a time after theenvelope is transported out of the insertion area and positioned againstthe stops 64 in the turner 19 before the turning cycle is started. Thisis an appropriate reject point because the envelope is not confined onboth sides by transporting or turner mechanisms and it is stationary.The reject mechanism 65 accomplishes the reject function.

Referring to FIG. 4, the rejection device is made up of a soft,constantly turning roller 81 on a long swinging arm 82 whose homeposition is out of the mailpath B3. Positioned under this roller is acurved ramp 84 that can move up and down by the action of a solenoid 85.The curve of the deck is such that when the arm swings through itstravel, the ramp will always be below the turning roller. One end ofthis curved deck is under the lower left corner of the smallest envelope88 that the machine will handle. When it is desired to reject anenvelope the solenoid 85 activates lifting the deck until it hits itsstop 87 which is adjusted such that the turning roller 81 engages thedeck 84 providing the power to swing the arm 82 in the direction of theenvelope 88 which is up against the turner reject position 86 and thearm 82 will hit its stop 90. At this time the turning roller grips theenvelope 88 and sends it out of the machine 91 into the tray 19A. Atthis time the solenoid 85 is turned off and the deck 84 drops downallowing the arm 82 to return to its home position 92 driven by thetorque of the vertical shaft 93 and the return spring 94. A sensor 95(not shown) is positioned in an appropriate location to sense thesuccess or failure of a reject operation. Failure can include a rejectreport operation, which repeats all of the foregoing steps. Failure mayinclude, for example, a dual feed into the turner station, wherein thereject operation removes only the uppermost of the dual feed documents,thus requiring a repeat reject.

Referring again to FIG. 2, in station 20 the stuffed enveloped passesthrough a flap moistener represented as a wetted wick and reservoir 67,disclosed in greater detail in aforesaid copending application Ser. No.281,607, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,194, issued on Apr. 9, 1991 a flapsealer represented by rollers 68, and then transported by the drivebelts 69 shown to storage or sorting facilities, or directly to apostage meter. The usual condition detection input 20A and output 20Bsensors for the moistener are present.

The machine operation will be clearer from FIGS. 3a-c, which showdocument positions during successive time periods. For clarity, therightmost queuing station will be designated 25A, the previous upstreamqueuing station 25B, and the leftmost queuing station 25C. FIG. 3aassumes a stack of documents 70, previously referred to as the globalcollation, which is at a rest position at a queuing station 25C of theupstream feeder 22, with an address document 71 on top (shown smallerfor clarity). A controller meanwhile has instructed the next module 12to feed one document 51 from its hopper to be added to the globalcollation. So, while the collation 70 waits at its queuing station, oneset of the documents 51 is deposited in the local queuing station 25B,shown at FIG. 3b. The sensors having informed the controller thatdocument 51 is present in station 25B, then the controller opens thegate 72 at station 25C and the global collation moves downstream to thenext queuing station 25B where it is halted by the gate 26B. Thedownstream path, indicated by the curved deck 73, is such as to depositthe global collation 70,71 on top of the document 51. This is shown inFIG. 3c. Meanwhile, station 25C having been emptied, can now be filledwith the upstream global collation 74, shown with its address document75 on top. FIG. 3c also shows that the downstream feeder 12 hasdeposited a document 50 from its hopper onto its queuing station 25A.

The last view shows another snapshot of the system at a subsequent time.The global collation 51, 70, 71 at station 25B has moved downstream toqueuing station 25A and placed on top of document 50. Upstream, adocument 51 has been deposited at station 25B, and the system is readyto advance global collation 74 75 downstream to station 25B.

An important feature is that each local station operates asynchronously,that is, substantially independently of the other stations, feeding wheninstructed local documents to its local queuing station, and calling forthe upstream global collation to be passed on to it as soon as its localfeeding is over. Hence, local deposit of documents at multiple feedersis not synchronized, each feeder doing its own local feeding undercontrol of a local controller. Similarly, global collation movementsdownstream are not synchronized but are passed on, on demand of andunder control of the next downstream controller. Input and outputsensors are employed at each module where appropriate. The sensors areconstantly sending messages to the local controllers informing them ofdocument arrivals and departures. Each local controller possesses theability to transmit information to a central controller. Similarly, thetransport and feed mechanisms are similarly activated as needed and inan asynchronous manner. Although not shown, multiple sensors may beemployed along each belt at each station to ensure bilateral symmetry ofmovement (absence of skew) along the mail path.

The operation of the envelope stuffing, turning moistening and sealerstations is similar. The envelope stuffer will not call for the globalcollation at 25A until an envelope is positioned, opened and ready forstuffing. Similarly, no stuffed envelopes will feed downstream until theturner moistener and sealer are ready to receive it. Additional moduleoperations such as bursters, scanners, postage meters sorters andstackers, whether upstream or downstream may be employed in this system,with similar sensor arrangements, local controllers and queuing.

A schematic of a system block diagram in accordance with the inventionis given in FIG. 5.

The overall communication concept employed herein is a uniquecommunication arrangement of combining command/response and peer to peercommunications. Peer to peer communication is also termed piece recordtransfer. When the system is not running the communication is acommand/respond, master/slave communication arrangement. This is aone-to-one command response protocol where the master controller, herethe base envelope feeder microprocessor, retains command and controlover the various inserter module microprocessors. However, while thesystem is running, the communication technique changes to a piece recordtransfer mode. Master slave communication is precluded during this modeof operation. If there is a need to communicate between modules (not ajam requiring user intervention) such communication is transparent tothe user. This allows the use of a single UART for dual purposecommunications and allows the throughput of large volumes of informationbecause the processing is in parallel in each module and the datatransfer throughout the modules are concurrent.

The system also provides for automatic configuration of equipment onpower up, and generates (each time it powers up) the necessary operatingconfiguration information of the equipment. The ring of topology of thepresent invention facilitates a geographic addressing mode. The systemconfiguration analysis command initiated by the master controller duringthe power up sequence requires each module in the inserter to identifyitself, serially, by tagging an address onto the command initiated bythe base control unit and to pass the tagged data back to the mastercontroller. Because of this arrangement, the system knows the number ofmodules and each module address. It does not, however, have to know theparticular nature of the modules, i.e., feeder, burster, etc. Thisallows for the addition of new and yet unknown modules to the system.

In the running mode, a serial topology is employed. Thus, theelectronics in each module allow for generation of a piece record insoftware regarding each collation. A piece record is generated by theelectronics and is passed from module to module asynchronously along theserial data link from one module microprocessor to the next. The piecerecord corresponds to a physical collation of the document set which isbeing moved from module to module. It represents an image of thephysical collation. Because of this architecture, one can pass arelatively large amount of data in block format from module to module.The piece record is a dynamic data structure and accommodates differentsize in different runs. The piece record data is in a sequencedarrangement and is passed between the modules in accordance with thecommunication protocol, and not necessarily synchronously with thephysical movement of the documents. The piece record can include datafor running a printer and/or any currently unknown or new I/O device.Also, communication continues between modules on a local level,including local handshake factors for release of queued documents.

The software architecture is such that all messaging is displayed on thebase or envelope module (all inserter configurations have an envelopemodule). Because all messages that are displayed on the base aregenerated by the various inserter modules and transmitted to the basemodule microprocessor for display on the display (in any language theoperator selects) the system is flexible and allows the addition of newmodules that do not presently exist. This permits module additionswithout having to change any of the existing software. Modules such asbursters bar code readers, OCR readers, scanners, sorting devices,postage meters, printers etc., can be easily added, both upstream ordownstream from the master controller.

The communication system of the present invention will now be set forthwith greater detail in connection with FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, theelectronics controlling the base unit, that is to say all portions ofthe inserter shown in FIG. 1 with the exception of the add-on modulesdesignated generally as 12, is designated as block 100. The electronicsfor each individual module 12, designated as modules 1, 2 and 3 forpurposes of illustration, correspond to elements 102, 104 an 106. Itwould be understood that additional modules may be added, the dash linesbetween module 106 and base unit control 100 representative of suchadditional module insertion. The electronic interconnection between thebase unit control 100 and the module is set forth on a dual basis.First, local handshake signals are provided from base unit control 100along the local handshake data line 108 to and bus 114 to additionalmodules and ultimately to the base unit control 100. The function of thelocal handshake signal data bus is to interconnect specific interunitcommunication signals in accordance with the operation of the device.Thus, the lines are shown as bi-directional, with the capability ofexchanging information as required between the respectivemicroprocessors contained within each of the units, 100, 102, 104 and106. The base unit control 100 is further connected along data line 116for point to point unidirectional serial data flow to the module 102.The module 102 is coupled to the module 104 along the unidirectionalserial bus 118, module 104 coupled to module 106 along theunidirectional serial data bus 120, and the module 106 coupled to thebase unit control 100, through any intermediate module in the samemanner, along unidirectional data bus 122. A second level ofcommunication is provided between the base unit control 100 and each ofthe respective modules along the multi drop global serial-parallel databus 124. This data bus is also bidirectional and serves the function ofa direct means of communication between each of tho modules and the baseunit control. Thus, two levels of data communication are illustrated,first providing for serial information exchange from the base unitcontrol through each of the respective modules, and a second level ofcommunication providing for direct communication between the base unitcontrol 100 and each of the respective modules 102, 104, and 106. Thepurpose of dual level communications is to maximize the speed ofinformation exchange and thus to maximize the speed of the operation ofthe insertion operation.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a generalized diagram of each individual moduleillustrating the relative relationship between respective components insuch modules is shown. As indicated therein, the basic electronics foreach individual module is contained within a module control board 130which has respective input port 132 and output port 134 to input devices136 and output devices 138. Input devices will include the variousdocument position sensors indicated hereinabove with respect to theexplanation of the FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as local switch settings andthe like. The output devices will include various solenoids and relays,and display devices, and also as illustrated hereinabove. In addition,the control board will drive respective power sources, including themotor drive indicated generally as 138, driven by DC motor control 140under the control of an AC interlock control unit 142. The motor 138corresponds to motor drive 28 shown schematically in FIG. 2.Informational input to each individual module may be provided by meansof a scanner and scanner control module 144 which may consist of aconventional optical scanner or the like, suitable for inputtinginformation from a document, such as the document 71 illustrated inconjunction with the explanation set forth in FIGS. 3A-D or other inputmeans derived for the purposes of inputting feeding information withrespect to a document stack contained by the respective module.

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the various modules has means for passinginformation relative to preceding modules there through. Thus, as shownin the module electronics schematic of FIG. 6, bi-directional moduleinterface signals corresponding to lines 110, 112, 114 of FIG. 5 areprovided into a terminal block 146 along pluralities of data line 148.The point to point unidirectional serial data bus 116 illustrated inFIG. 5 is shown generally along the data lines 150. Outputs from themodule are provided through the upper terminal 152, and include theserial links between each of the modules, the serial link to the firstmodule from the base unit, the multi drop command line port coupled tothe multi drop global serial-parallel data bus 124, illustrated in FIG.5, and other bi-directional module interface signals required for handshaking mode and the like.

Referring to FIG. 7, a more detail ed illustration of the functionalrelationship of the elements contained within the base unit control 100is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the base unit controlelectronics includes a computerized base unit control board 160containing a plurality of input and output data lines, coupled throughport 162. These data lines include the serial link from the upstreammodule, the serial link to the first module in the system, thebi-directional module interface signals, the system status bus and themulti drop command lines, among others. The base unit controlelectronics 160 further includes input port 164 and output port 168. Theinput port 164 is coupled to a series of input devices 166, whichinclude the plurality of sensors positioned throughout the various areasof the base unit module, as shown in FIG. 2. The output terminal port168 is coupled to a plurality of output devices 170, which may includeinter-active mechanical components such as the turning station andreject station noted in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 4. In addition, thecontrol board 160 is also coupled to AC and interlock control 172, whichis in turn coupled to a filter 174 for receiving the AC power from input176, and provides filtered AC to the AC output terminal 178 for poweringthe modules. The AC and interlock control 172 is also coupled to themotor control circuit 180 which in turn supplied regulated DC current tothe DC motor 182 which is employed for driving the transport mechanismsand belt drivers illustrated in conjunction with the explanation setforth above in FIG. 2. Input and output ports 164 and 168 are alsocoupled to the motor control circuitry for communicating signalsrelative to the control of this motor. The operator interface module 184is coupled to output of the electronic control board 160 for providing ainterface between the keyboard 16 and display screen 15 in theelectronics control station 14 illustrated in conjunction with FIG. 1.

In reference to FIG. 8, a detailed description of the computer controlof the base unit control board 160 is illustrated. The data link isprovided through input data port 190, and through timer 192 to themicroprocessor 194 which is typically of the intel 8051 family ofmicroprocessors. A port expander 196, which may be an Intel type 82C55receives output signals from the microprocessor 194 and places theseoutput signals into various data lines for inter connection to therespective remote modules. The decoder section 198 responds to signalsreceived from the microprocessor 194 for interfacing with the timer 192,and the keyboard and display unit illustrated generally as unit 200. Themicroprocessor 194 operates in conjunction with random access memory 202for temporary data storage and a permanent read only memory 204 forsupplying the program control in the microprocessor 194.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a more detailed diagram of the module controlboard 130 of FIG. 6 is illustrated. Each individual module is controlledby a local controller, such as the microprocessor 220, which ispreferably of the Intel 8051 family, coupled to a local data transferbus 222 receiving local intermodule handshake signals through the localmodule handshake interface buffer 224. Local data transfer bus 222 alsoreceives signals from the local input section 226 which includes thedocument position sensors illustrated in conjunction with theexplanation set forth in FIG. 2, local keyboard input, and other inputdevices. The data transfer bus also provides output signals from themicroprocessor 220 to the local output section 228 for controllingelectromechanical components contained within the module such as motionclutches for driving the transports, solenoids for disabling the drivemotors and activating the queuing stations, and relays for activatingstatus lights and other power functions. As set forth above inconjunction with the explanation of the operation of FIG. 2, the datatransfer bus 222 also carries signals to the buffer 230 for the globalmulti drop interface bus 124 (FIG. 5). Block 232 includes EPROM forprogram storage for local program control and RAM for temporary storageare also coupled to the microprocessor local data transport bus 222 in aconventional manner. Microprocessor 220 also receives the signalsderived from the point to point serial interface bus through buffer 234.

With reference now to the block diagram of FIG. 10, the softwareroutines utilized to establish operation of the electronic controlsystem of the inserter of the present invention will be described.

The system provides for automatic configuration of equipment on powerup, and generates (each time it powers up) the necessary operatingconfiguration information of the equipment. Prior art systems require aconfiguration PROM installed in the equipment. For each configurationchange, a new configuration PROM had to be generated and physicallychanged. It should be noted that such equipment allowed the user toselected features within the configuration, but not to change theconfiguration itself

The system employs a master controller operating in conjunction with themodule computer. The ring of topology of the present inventionfacilitates geographic addressing for module identification. The systemconfiguration analysis command promulgated by the base unitmicro-processor during the power up sequence requires each module in theinserter to send data back. Because of this arrangement, the base unitmicroprocessor will have stored therein the number of modules and theaddress of each. It does not, however, need to know the particularnature of the modules. This allows for the addition of new and yetunknown modules to the system. The software architecture is such thatall messaging is displayed on the base module (all inserterconfigurations have an envelope module). Because all messages that aredisplayed on the base are generated by the various inserter modules andtransmitted to the base module microprocessor for display on a displayscreen (in any language the operator selects) the system is flexible andallows the addition of new modules that do not presently exist. Thispermits module additions without having to change any of the existingsoftware. Modules such as bar code readers, OCR readers, scanners,sorting devices, etc., can be easily added.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the present invention accomplishes thispurpose by utilization of the uni-directional serial data busline 116,in which the base unit addresses all modules serially using a globalsystem command sent on the serial channel. Geographically speaking, thecontrol signal is sent to the furthest module first. The base unitmaintains a table of addresses of each of the modules in the system.Thus, conceptually, the base unit initiates a control signal by acommand which is sent to module 1, and module 1 applies as a tag to thecommand signal a local address indicating its presence and, if desired;its configuration. The tagged command signal passes along the serialdata bus 118 to module 2, wherein module 2 adds its address andconfiguration to the data and so on through module 3 and the remainingmodules until it returns to the base control unit wherein it is storedin memory.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the program routine for the base moduleprovides first for the initiation of the startup routine from thecentral unit, in block 300. The next step in block 310 is theperformance of local diagnostics within the base control unit. Next,block 312, a module address assignment is initiated by passage of ageographic address command along the serial data bus. The modulesrespond, as described above, by placing an address and, if desired, typedesignation code or tag on the command signal, and passing same onto thenext module, and so on, until the signal returns to the base unitwherein it is stored in memory. Thereafter, in block 314, the systembranches in accordance with the optional selections made by the operatorregarding the modes in which the inserter may operate. These modesinclude START, SINGLE CYCLE, SET UP TO CHANGE PARAMETER MODE or REPORTMODE. Options are displayed on the local screen, and the operatorchooses by keyboard inputting a choice. The remaining options in block314 are SINGLE CYCLE, SET UP TO CHANGE PARAMETERS and REPORT MODE. InSINGE CYCLE, the program runs through only one insert operation andstops. In SET UP TO CHANGE PARAMETERS the communication protocol createsa window into each module once the base unit becomes a terminal whichallows the operator to communicate directly with each module. The REPORTand DIAGNOSTIC (a separate mode not accessible from the screen) modesoperate similarly, i.e., by command/response communication. If theoperator chooses the start mode, the operation proceeds to block 316wherein the first stage of the operation is to shut down theinterchannel communication represented in FIG. 5 by communicationbetween blocks 102 and 104, 104 and 106, etc. The program next entersblock 318 and begins the run mode. In the run mode, the base unit sendsout a global command on the serial channel that tells each individualmodule to enter a run mode, in response to which each module preparesfor a document transfer to process paper. Once entering the run mode,the base unit awaits the receipt through each module along the serialchannel of the signal indicating each module has effected run modetransfer operation. This occurs in block 320. Upon receipt by the baseunit control of a confirmation signal through each of the successivemodules, the signal is examined, block 322, to determine whether or notthere are any problem checks, that is to say, whether any problems haveoccurred in each of the individual modules. Since each module has aunique channel address, a problem occurring in each of any individualmodules will manifest itself by modules own identification address inthe base unit control system. As indicated in decision block 324, anyproblems that are determined to have occurred will cause the system flowto proceed to block 326, where it is then determined which module has aparticular problem. Through the message capability of the base unit,problems that occur in any individual module are specifically identifiedand displayed to the operator, block 328, in the base unit controlelectronics display 15, see FIG. 1. In block 330, operator input isawaited for purposes of correcting any specific problem which may havebeen displayed upon the display screen as a result of the analysis ofblock 322. Upon confirmation of the operator of correction of theproblem, the cycle begins again as indicated by the legend "1" in acircle, corresponding with the circled 1 in the start block of 314, andrepeats itself. Assuming the absence of a problem in the first orsuccessive cycles, decision block 324 indicting same in the NOdirection, then directs the flow to enter the run mode step 332. Afterentering run mode, the system transfers its operation, block 334, from acommand-response, master-slave communication arrangement, which is aone-to-one command protocol where the master unit retains command andcontrol over the various inserter module microprocessors, to a piecerecord transfer mode. The electronics in each module allow forgeneration of a piece record, also termed collation record, in softwareregarding each collation. A piece record is generated by the electronicsand is passed from module to module, without passing through a mastercontroller, asynchronously through the inserter, from one microprocessorto another. The piece record corresponds to the physical collation whichis being moved from module to module. It represents an image of thephysical collation. Because of this architecture, one can pass a largeamount of data in block format from module to module. The piece recordis a dynamic data structure and accommodates different sizes ofcollations in different runs. The piece record is passed in a sequencedarrangement, module to module, but not necessarily passed between themodules synchronously with the physical movement of the documents. Sincethe piece record is dynamic, it can include data for running a printerand/or any currently unknown or new I/O device. The beginning of thecollation record generation, block 336, results in all communicationsbetween modules being done in a manner which is transparent to the baseunit control , and not along the serial data channel. Handshakingcommunications take place along the communication links 110, 112, 114,and piece record transfer along the links 118, 120 and 122 (FIG. 5).Errors requiring operator intervention are transmitted to the basecontrol unit by means of the multidrop global serial parallel databus124, by which background mode communication is maintained between thebase unit control 100 and each of the respective modules. Thus, transferof a large volume information is possible because processing is inparallel and each module and data transfer takes place in a concurrentmanner.

Referring 10 FIGS. 11A & 11B, a module flow routine is shown. The piecerecord generate command block 336 begins the module flow routine. Thepiece record, also termed collation record, represents all of theparticular data associated with a particular run through an individualfeeding module. The first step in the generation of the collation recordis the activation of the motor drive in the first feed module, block338. In block 340, the module then scans for the control signal for datawhich is to control the operation of the individual feeder. This datamay include a number of specific documents for a run, the number ofindividual documents which may be included from that specific feeder,particular documents which will be required for an insert operation,and, in the case of downstream modules, information regarding thereceipt of specific information from upstream modules. This data may beprovided from a control document, read optically or by bar code, orinput on the module keyboard, may be transmitted from the base unitcontrol, or may be sent as part of a data link communication from aremote source. The three options are illustrated as side paths, block342.

It is also possible for multiple instructions to be issued in eachmodule. Thus, for example module 1 could contain a multipart invoicewith instructions on collation, module 2 could contain a checkcorresponding to the invoice with its own instruction. In block 344, theoperation is commenced. Upon completion of the operation, a completerecord, block 346, formed in memory in the microprocessor circuitry ofthe feed module is created. The piece record is handed off from moduleto module when the current module has completed its collation operation.However, release of the queuing station and passing the collation ontothe next module, will only occur when the down stream module signals itis ready to accept same. Thus, the piece record transfer is notnecessarily synchronous with the collation movement. In block 350, thepiece record is handed off to the next module, along the thepoint-to-point bidirectional serial data bus 118. At the same time, aready signal, indicating that module 1 has its documents in queue, readyto send, is passed block 348, to module 2, the next downstream module.The next module processor M2 repeats the same routine, FIG. 11B, as M1,with corresponding operation blocks shown with the same referencenumbers but with "A" suffixes. When M2 has completed its collationoperation, and has its documents ready at its queuing station, itacknowledges same, block 348A by providing its ready signal back alongthe bidirectional link 110 to the first module processor. At this point,block 349, the first module processor M1 releases its queuing stationand the first module collation passes to the second module queuingstation where it is combined with the second module collation. See FIG.3a- d. Meanwhile, a similar operation has occurred at the nextdownstream module, if any. It is noted that the piece record, that isthe data status which defines the collation of the first module, hasbeen forwarded to the next module when the collation has been achievedat the first module, along the serial data link 118. This operation ispart of the handshaking mode. Thus, the piece record is not necessarilysynchronous with the actual passage of the physical collation frommodule to module. This multi-level communication decreases theprocessing time of the present invention.

Each module includes a switch on its key panel for enabling on line, offline and automatic. If, for example, the module is on line and theswitch is set for two there are then two documents in each cycle foreach piece. There are two reading operations in the module. First, theinstructions on the incoming document are checked to see if there areany specific instructions. If the module is off line, the incoming piecedocument, which provides the collation instruction to the module, isignored. If the module is on line, application are defined either by theinput document, by the local hardware where set up was done on the localkeyboard, or its input buffer if there was a set-up instruction passedthrough by the base unit.

In the change parameter mode, where the base unit acts as a terminal forthe local module, communication is set up along the serial data link.The module is addressed by the base unit, in accordance with the tagsignal placed thereon, as explained in the start up mode. Hence, throughthe base unit keyboard, the local module can be programmed for anoperation, and those instructions stored in the input buffer.

The collation or piece record is incremented by the information added inmodule 2, and passed on to the next module. This operation continuesthrough each of the individual modules, shown by the dash line 352,until the collation record is received and placed into the base unit,block 354. It will be understood that program steps shown in FIGS. 11Aand 11B are all program instructions taking place within each individualmodule. Base unit flow chart, which ended at block 334, then resumes atblock 354 (FIG. 12) when the collation record is received in the baseunit. At this time, block 356, the base unit causes the insert operationto take place, as was described in conjunction with FIG. 2. At thispoint the base module checks the collation record in block 358 todetermine if any specific errors have been sensed at any stage or stepin the insertion process. The several error checking routines will bedescribed in further detail hereinafter, however each complete collationrecord provides an overall status for reject conditions. If thecollation records indicate that a good run has taken place, decisionblock 360 sends the program to the turning step in block 361, FIG. 12,then to sealing, in block 362, and ends the operation in block 364. Ifthe collation decision, block 360, indicates a bad collation record,caused for example by overweight insertions, then, block 364, arejection step takes place in block 366, energizing the ejectionsolenoid (FIG. 4) and the program sends the transmission of anappropriate error message in block 368.

Referring to FIG. 13, a subroutine in each module monitors erroroperation. Thus, timing block 370, and paper moving block 372conditions, as examples, are continually monitored. Failure, Ncondition, forces a status check, block 74, wherein a Y indicates suchcondition is proper and the system recycles, block 376. An N conditioncauses a system pause, block 378, explained in further detail below.

Referring to FIG. 14, the error routines and messaging concept employedin conjunction with the present invention is illustrated. Thus, as shownherein, the first stage of the program in block 400 is a scan routine.The scan routine is continuous and operates throughout the entireoperation of every insertion run. During the scan routine, the base unitcontrol 100, along the multidrop global serial parallel databus 124,interrogates each of the respective modules 102, 104, 106 . . . The baseunit scans each respective module for conditions which will continuouslyreport machine status and does so along the multidrop global serialparallel interface bus 124, illustrated by an arrow line interconnectingeach of the modules to the base unit. Thus, the base unit scans forproblems, block 400, and a decision block 402 detects presence orabsence of error messages. In the absence of an error message, the scancycle simply continues again, indicated by the N, or No line emergingfrom the decision block 402. In the event a problem does occur, the baseunit enters a pause mode, and produces a pause mode signal at block 404,and an error message is generated. Messaging is handled so that eachmodule has the entire text of an error message contained within itself.Each time a module error is signalled, the base unit simply displays theerror message from each module upon receipt thereof, each module beingindividually identified as explained and above in conjunction with thestart up process by a unique address placed upon each module in theinitial scan routine. The initiating of an error message may be promptedby a series of specific error indications, such as out of paper, paperjam, improper movement of a document and the like, indicated in theexplanation of FIG. 2. The error line may be driven by any module, andconsists of a read-write line which the base unit samples at regularintervals. Each of the modules continually checks for a pause signal,block 406. In the event a pause signal is present, each module begins ashutdown, block 408, wherein a module operation in progress iscompleted. Module operation is frozen at the end of any specificoperation convenient for completion and data stored for later restart,block 410. Stated simply, the error line is driven by the modules andread by the base unit. The pause line is driven by the base unit andread by the modules. The pause mode allows each of the modules to finishup their operations, reaching a point where each individual module motormay be turned off and returned to a command-response mode, block 412. Atthis point, block 414, tho module inserts a busy line into the multidropline indicating that each module has completed its operation to aconvenient point, and that individual modules are synchronized withrespect to an up or down stream module. Piece records at this stage arenot transferred, but the serial data link is now clear for the responsein command-response mode, block 416. Beginning at the base unit, astatus request command is issued, block 418, along the serial data bus116, received first by module 102, with a status request. If the statusrequest of module 102 returns negative, the signal is passed along bus118 to module 104 and a similar request made of module 104. Thisoperation is indicated in decision block 420, wherein a NO response of astatus request to module 102 will result in the next successive downstream module address added to the status request, block 422, and thecycle repeating in 418 requesting the issuance of a report, this time inthe next successive module. Should this module now respond with an errorresponse, block 424, an appropriate status report will be provided tothe base unit, along with the message to be displayed on screen. Asindicated above, each module contains the entire text of the message foreach of the respective errors which a module may wish to display in thebase unit display. Thus, the module responds with its address plus amessage, which is passed through along the serial data link 116 alongsuccessive modules to the base unit for display on the base unit displayscreen. This is indicated in block 426. At this point, operatorintervention is awaited, block 428. Additional message indicators may beprovided in each respective module, such as red and green display lightsindicating such errors as OUT OF PAPER, PAPER JAM and the like. If anOUT OF PAPER is displayed in the operator screen, the operator then isprovided with an indication to that effect, either in the form of avisual or audible alarm, and the entire operation of the machine isplaced in a suspended operation until the operator has reset themechanism to correct the error. At this point, piece records are stillawaiting transfer in their respective microprocessors in each of themodules, and the system is on suspension pending restart, indicated inblock 430. Once the error is corrected, the operator re-starts, and theoperation then resumes. Resumption of the operation resumes continuingsuccessive scans, block 432. The error scan operation then repeatsitself. Along with the resumption of the scan operation, a record iskept, block 434, of the errors occurring throughout the system. The baseunit keeps an accumulative count of errors per run, along with the typesof errors. The error may be stored at the moment of storage of block412, when the module has finished its preceding operation. This errorrecord is added to the piece record. The piece record is passed on theserial link from module to module, as explained above, until it reachesthe base unit. Thus, the base unit may keep track of errors by storing,from each piece record as it is received, the location and type oferror. Such data may be derived totally from the piece record after thebase unit receives same, and may include other additional informationwhich is stored as a result of piece record report requirements,including piece count, collation errors, jams, etc.

The piece record includes the length of the record, number of bytes,including control bytes, the control bytes containing bits indicatingwhether paper is present, the last piece tag, whether collation is inerror in batch processing, first piece, last piece, presence or absenceof the control document, functions for downstream modules, selectionsmade according to collation records or document numbers, and otheradditional information. The current preferred length of piece record is256 bytes for the purpose of conserving memory; however, it will beunderstood that the piece record may be varied in accordance withoperator needs.

There is a local handshaking operation between modules and betweenmodules and the base unit, noted in FIG. 5, and designated in buses 108,110, 112, 114 . . . etc. Local handshaking includes information such as,piece ready, piece record release, piece release, etc., all of which areutilized for specific control of transmission of upstream moduledocuments by release from the queuing station to the next successivedownstream module. Each of the respective sensors indicated in FIG. 2serve as part of the error indication for each module. The sensors areused to point out error flags to the local microprocessor and eachrespective module on a timing basis for indicating whether or notdocuments are in the proper location and the proper sequence. Any errorindicated by improper sensing of documents at the incorrect time resultsin the placement of an error flag in the local microprocessor, and theseerrors are picked up during system status checks periodically made alongthe multidrop global serial parallel data bus line, as described above.

The unique operation of permitting each individual module to haveentirely pre-stored error messages within each module allows formulti-language translation to be utilized in conjunction with thepresent invention. In this instance each module is provided with anEPROM, containing an plurality of pre-stored messages, includingmessages such as OUT OF PAPER, PAPER JAM and other messages relating tothe feeding of multiple documents at each respective feed stations,translated into as many different languages as may be conceivablyemployed for units shipped anywhere in the world. Thus, the advantage ofencoding EPROM on this basis is that individual coding of error messageson a customized basis depending upon the specific language requirementof the user need not be done on a customer-by-customer basis. The systemis effected in the present invention by the use of a multi-languagetranslation selection, which is selected upon startup with eachrespective machine operation. The difficulty encountered with multiplelanguages is the difference in the number of letters for each message,and the present invention provides a unique method of indexing through avariable character set, in accordance with how many characters eachmessage contains. The system operates on a pointer basis. Thus,referring to FIG. 15, a memory map shows the arrangement wherein aplurality of messages, four by way of example, are stored in an EPROM,each message taking up a specific, but necessarily different, amount ofpre-stored space, constituting pluralities of characters. It will beunderstood that additional languages may be feasible, and that manyerror messages may be present. Thus, the first message indicated asblock 501 may be in English, whereas the successive messagesconstituting the same message but in another language and occupying adifferent message length is shown at 502, 503 and 504 respectively.Thus, the error message shown on at 501 may be in English, 502 may be inFrench, 503 in German, and 504 in Spanish. The translation subroutinefor selecting appropriate message is illustrated in FIG. 16, and formspart of the subroutine of the startup operations. The first step of thesubroutine is to index the pointer 506 to the first message shown inblock 510, and referring to EPROM memory storage location area 501. Thesystem automatically defaults to English, which is indexed as the firstmessage, and then allows the operator to switch languages. The sensingof the switching of languages, block 512, carries in decision block 514.The sensing may result from a manually set switch or a keyboard enteredresponse to a screen displayed question. A NO response, indicating thatlanguages are not to be switched, allows the subroutine to return to themain program, block 516. Should there be a language switch, the pointer506 is reset depending upon the language selected. The system employs amultiplier concept, meaning that if the second language is selected,block 502, a multiplier of 1 is provided. The third language, block 503,is a multiplier of 2, and the fourth language is a multiplier of 3. Thefirst character of each language indicates the number of characterspresent in that respective language, this block is indicated as firstcharacter byte 501A of block 501, 502A of block 502, 503A of block 503and 504A of block 504. The language switch step 512, FIG. 16, willindicate specific multipliers for the pointer 506 reset in block 518. Asthe pointer is reset, from block 501 to 502 if a number greater than 0is selected, the pointer will move to the first byte position 502A frombyte position 501A by the amount of characters indicated in the firstbyte position 501A and amounting to the number of characters stored inthe first message translation plus one. Thus, if there are 40 charactersin English, byte 501A will indicate 41 characters present in message501. The additional character represents the byte storing the characterinformation. If the pointer is to be reset, pointer 506 moves to thefirst byte portion of the language indicated by its multiplier, 1, 2, 3,which is an indication the number of times the reset operation is totake place. Thus, if language block 504 selected, the multiplier is 3,the software routine first analyzes character byte position 501A,determines the number of characters, and jumps to character position502A. This is only the first iteration. If 3 iterations have beenselected, the operation repeats itself a second time, moving to block503A, calculating the move by the number of character positions storedat the first pointer indexing position found in block 502A. Theoperation then repeats again, causing the translation pointer to pointto block 504A, which is the selected language. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16after the initial pointer reset, block 518, the character quantity isread, block 520, and the pointer jumps by the character quantity, block522. At this point, if the number of jumps equals the language selectionmultiplier, decision block 524, then the program routine returns to thestartup subroutine, block 516. If it does not, then the jump counter isincremented by 1, block 526, and program returns to block 518 for arepeat of the operation. The operation continues to recycle until thejump(s) equals the selected multiplier language(s), thereby indicatingthe pointer now at the correct language translation error message.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this contributionto the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended tobe comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence Of theappended claims.

I claim:
 1. In a material processing system comprising a plurality ofmaterial processing stations and means for transporting articles to beprocessed serially through said material processing stations in a givenorder, the improvement comprising:a processing station computer in eachof said material processing stations, one of said computers operating asa central processor and the remaining processing station computersoperating as peripheral processors; a first data channel seriallyinterconnecting each of said peripheral processors with said centralprocessor; a second data channel connecting each of said peripheralprocessors directly with said central processor; and a third datachannel interconnecting each of said processing station computers withadjacent ones of said processing station computers, said first, secondand third data channels each performing a different data processingoperation for controlling serial processing of articles transportedthrough said material processing stations, wherein during run mode eachof said peripheral processors generates a record of operation and errormessages, said peripheral processor passing the record of operation to asuccessive serially connected one of said peripheral processors alongsaid third data channel, and passing said error messages along saidsecond data channel, said first data channel being rendered inoperativeduring said run mode
 2. The material processing system of claim 1wherein each of said peripheral processors generates a completion ofoperation signal and a ready to receive signal, said peripheralprocessors each passing said signals to appropriate adjacent ones ofsaid peripheral processors along said third data channel, said thirddata channel being a bidirectional data link.
 3. The material processingsystem of claim 1 wherein each peripheral processor processes materialat a respective material processing station until completion orinterruption error, said completion signalled by first means for passinga completion signal along said third data channel, said error signalledto said central processor by second means for passing said error signalfrom said peripheral processor along said second data channel, saidsecond means operating independently of said first means whereby each ofsaid peripheral processors will cause said respective materialprocessing station to process to completion regardless of an errorcausing interruption in the other of said material processing stations.4. The material processing system of claim 1 wherein each of saidperipheral processors includes a microprocessor, an input buffer and anoutput buffer, and a signal passage port controller, said signal passageport controller passing signals from an upstream adjacent one of saidprocessing station computers to a lower adjacent one of said processingstation computers along said first data channel.
 5. In a materialprocessing system comprising a plurality of material processing stationsand means for transporting articles to be processing stations and meansmaterial processing stations in a given order, the improvementcomprisinga processing station computer in each of said materialprocessing stations, one of said processing station computers operatingas a central processor and the remaining processing station computersoperating as peripheral processors; a first data channel seriallyinterconnecting each of said peripheral processors with said centralprocessor; a second data channel connecting each of said peripheralprocessors directly with said central processor; and a third datachannel interconnecting each of said processing station computers withadjacent ones of said processing station computers, each of said first,second and third data channels performing a different data processingoperation for controlling serial processing for transporting articles;wherein the material processing system operates in at least a start-upmode and a run mode, and during said start-up mode said centralprocessor operates as a master controller processing signals along saidfirst data channel, each of said peripheral processors operatingindependently of the other peripheral processors and said centralprocessor during said run mode, and wherein during said run mode eachperipheral processor generates a record of operation and can generateerror messages, said peripheral processor passing the record ofoperation to a successive serially connected one of said peripheralprocessors along said third data channel, and passing said errormessages along said second data channel, said first data channel beingrendered inoperative during said run mode.
 6. In a material processingsystem comprising a plurality of material processing stations and meansfor transporting articles to be processed serially through said materialprocessing stations in a given order during insert mode of operation,the improvement comprisinga processing station computer in each of saidmaterial processing stations, one of said processing station computersoperating as a central processor and the remaining processing stationcomputers operating as peripheral processors; a first data channelserially interconnecting each of said peripheral processors with saidcentral processor; a second data channel connecting each of saidperipheral processors directly with said central processor; and a thirddata channel interconnecting each of said processing station computerswith adjacent ones of said processing station computers, said first,second and third data channels each performing a different dataprocessing operation for controlling serial processing of articlestransported through said material processing stations; and wherein saidprocessing station computers communicate during insert mode of operationat a station to station level along said third data channel and duringother modes of operation at a command-response level along said firstdata channel.